Plattegrond van Lausanne, 1726 1726

Editor: This is "Plattegrond van Lausanne, 1726," a cityscape made as an engraving. The precision is remarkable. I'm fascinated by how they captured so much detail without the technology we have today. What social factors do you think influenced the creation and use of a piece like this? Curator: It's a wonderful example of how cities projected power. These weren't just for navigation; they were strategic visual tools. Consider who commissioned it and for what purpose. Was it for military planning, civic pride, or perhaps attracting investors? Think about what the city *chose* to show-- the grand architecture, orderly layout. The medium itself – print – also tells a story: it enabled wider dissemination of the image, reinforcing the city's influence beyond its physical boundaries. Editor: So it's not just about accuracy but about presenting a specific image of Lausanne? How did the socio-political climate inform this perspective? Curator: Exactly! 1726 was a time of rebuilding after conflicts and shifts in power. Notice how prominently the map displays key civic buildings, reinforcing the image of stability and good governance, but downplays the living conditions of those with little power. The idealized cityscape suggests security and control, masking potential social tensions or inequalities present at the time. Consider what’s *not* shown. What parts of city life did this map omit or downplay? Editor: That's insightful. It makes me consider what messages we send through maps and images today. I had been approaching the artwork as merely informational. Thank you! Curator: And I appreciate your initial impression – we've gone from thinking about this artwork simply as "truthful documentation" to one invested in a complex cultural dialogue.